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Here at AboutSF.com, we're continually looking for new academic materials to share with all our users. We are all about helping people reach a better understanding of SF, and we know that the field is changing significantly, on a constant basis. As such, if you have anything you'd like to share with us - syllabi, course assignments, reading lists/bibliographies, critical reviews, etc. - feel free to get in touch with us at aboutsf@gmail.com.

We've been digging through the video archives here at AboutSF and the Center for the Study of Science Fiction, and we've found some real treasures that we want to share with readers and viewers, especially those interested in the history of SF in other media. The first offering we have for you all is a real treat: an interview with Rod Serling conducted by CSSF founder James Gunn, back in 1970 at the CSSF offices at the University of Kansas.

AboutSF has gone through some significant changes in the last year, one of which is the hiring of new volunteer coordinators: myself, Adam Mills, and my colleague, Christina Lord. The website for AboutSF itself is going through some changes as well, and before I explain what you can all expect, I thought I would properly introduce myself and Christina to you all!

This past weekend, AboutSF participated in the latest iteration of ConQuesT, Kansas City’s (MO) longest-running science fiction convention, at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. For CSSF Director Chris McKitterick and other associates of AboutSF, this convention has been a long-running commitment for years now. For myself and fellow volunteer coordinator Christina Lord, however, this was our first trip.

Teaching SF for the first time can be an incredibly daunting experience. Personally, you have to be prepared to discuss difficult and often delicate topics to a group of students, some of whom may think they hate science fiction. Academically, you will have to strike a balance between what you consider important, relevant, or good SF and what is generally understood as important, relevant, or good.

New books of science fiction and fantasy criticism are published every week. Here are a few of the more recent scholarly books concerning the field of speculative fiction, from some of the foremost scholars in the genre.

Lightspeed Magazine announced several months ago a special issue devoted to women and science fiction. Recently, the editors launched a Kickstarter to fund the issue. Here's their philosophy behind the project:

Next semester, AboutSF Volunteer Coordinator Mackenzie is embarking on a new teaching discovery! I'll be teaching an introduction to fiction course titled "Teens and Technology" here at KU. While my students will mostly be out of their teens, we will be reading several SF books marketed specifically at Young Adults to discover the relationship teens have with our changing technologies. Click here to read what I'll be up to and stay tuned as I share my syllabus, experiences, and classroom activities.